Folding table



June 21, 1938.

Original Filed July 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 a M/ A .M 7 QG .l- H 1 I MM |u.||||||||t|| 1| H MM M, Q Q 4 MM M, 6 Q v Q Q Q Q .Q w 6 t Q Q 4Q Q Q Q Q Q fl M w a M, Q Q Q Q Q Q 4; b 0 Q G a m 1 MM I h 7 .7 7 1 V T J w .4 7/ M 7 a Inventor Attorneys June 21, 1938.

Original Filed July 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I n venior F. JZFZIZZS By @zmmih Attorneys June 21, 1938. T Q DUKES 2,121,398

' FOLDING TABLE W Original Filed July 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnv enfor filial/1:96

l-"lfforneys Patented June 21,1938

PATENT r ce FOLDING TABLE Thomas 0. Dukes, Parnell, Mo.

Application July 30, 1936, Serial No. 93,470 Renewed December 3, 1937 3 Claims. (c1. 311- 62) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in tables and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a table embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which said table may be expeditiously folded or unfolded as desired and which, when folded, will occupy a minimum of space.

Otherobjects of the invention are to provide a folding or collapsible table of the character described'which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become aption, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of refer-' ence designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:--

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view, showing the table in open or extended position, the supporting legs being illustrated in horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the invention, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view, showing the table in folded position, the supporting legs being in horizontal section.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in bottom plan of a portion of the table top, showing the same in extended or unfolded position.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view with the parts in an intermediate position of folding.

Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical section through a corner portion of the invention, taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings-in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a pair of end sections which are designated generally by the reference numeral I. The end sections l are adapted to be moved toward and away from each other and each of said end sections includes a pair of supporting legs 2 between which a rail 3 extends.

The movable end sections I are connected by following specificafoldable rails which are designated generally by the reference numeral 4. The foldable rails 4 comprise comparatively short stationary end sections 5 which are fixed on the upper portions of the legs 2 and on which swinging sections 6 are hingedly-mounted, as at I. The sections 6 of the foldable rails 4 are adapted to swing inwardly and said sections 6 are connected at their inner ends by hinges 8.

Mounted on the folding rails 4 is a stationary intermediate leaf 9. 'Hingedly mounted on the stationary intermediate leaf 9 are drop leaves It which are adapted to be supported in horizontal or operative position by the end sections I, as shown to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings, it will be seen that substantially T-shaped grooves II and I2 are formedin the lower faces of theleaves 9 and Ill, which. grooves are aligned when the leaves I0 are in raised position. Extending inwardly from the grooves II in the stationary intermediate leaf 9 are oppositely curved substantially T-shaped grooves l3 which merge at their outer ends where they communicate with the grooves H. An arcuate groove l4 connects the inner ends of the grooves [3. It

will be observed that in the embodiment shown the grooves .H to M, inclusive, are formed by channelling leaves 9 and I 0 and then securing over the channels countersunk metallic plates which are constructed and arranged to define comparatively narrow slots. Headed screws l5 are mounted in the upper ends of the legs 2 and on the rail sections 5 and said headed screws are slidable in the grooves II and I2. The hinges 8 comprise pins it having heads [6' on their upper ends which are adapted to travel in the grooves l3 and I4.

Flexible cables or the like through openings or notches which are provided therefor in the rails 3 and are provided on their outer ends with'handles E8. The cables I! are H extend slidably connected by branches l9 with the hingedly connected inner ends of the foldable rail sections 6, guides 20 being provided beneath the stationary intermediate leaf 9 forsaidcables and the branches.

It is thought that the operation of the inventionwill be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. With the end sections I in fully extended position, as seen in Figures 1 and-2 of the drawings, the hinged drop leaves I 0 are supported in raised or operative position thereby. When it is desired to fold or collapse the table,

' leaf, a pair of as seen in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, one of the cables I! is pulled outwardly. This causes the hingedly connected rail sections 6 to swing inwardly on their hinges I, the pins l6 of the hinges 8 traveling in an arc in one of the grooves l3 until the inner end thereof is reached. This operation causes the end section I which is opposite the cable I1 which has been pulled to move inwardly beneath one side of the stationary intermediate leaf 9. Then, the other of the cables I1 is pulled outwardly in a manner to swingthe hingedly connected inner ends of the rail sections.

6 to the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the pins l6 of the hinges B traveling in the grooves M. This last operation causes the other end section I to be drawn inwardly beneath the other side portion of the stationary intermediate leaf 9. When the end sections l are thus drawn inwardly beneath the leaf 9 the hinged leaves l are free to drop to folded position, as seen in Figure of the drawings.

It is, believedthat the manyadvantages of a folding table constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A folding table comprising a pair of end sections movable toward and away from each other, said end sections including supporting legs, foldable rails connecting the end sections, said foldable rails including inwardly swinging sections hingedly connected at one end, a stationary leaf mounted on the foldable rails, means slidably connecting the hingedly connected ends of the foldable rail sections to said stationary drop leaves hingedly mounted on the stationary leaf, means slidably connecting the end sections to the stationary and drop leaves, and means for actuating the rails to folded position for moving the end sections inwardly beneath the stationary leaf.

2. A folding table comprising a pair of end sections movable toward and away from each other, foldable rails connecting said end sections, said foldable rails including inwardly swinging sections hingedly connected. at one end, a stationary leaf mounted on the foldable rails, drop leaves hingedly mounted on the stationary leaf and engageable for support on the end sections when said end sections are in extended position, the leaves having grooves therein aligned with eachv other when the drop leaves are in raised position, the stationary leaf further having a curved groove therein communicating with the first-named groove at one end and still further having another groove therein communicating with the second-named groove at its other end, means operable in the second and third-named grooves for slidably connecting the hingedly connected ends of the foldable rail sections to the stationary leaf, and means on the end sections operable in the first-named grooves for slidably connecting said end sections to the stationary and drop leaves. I

3. A folding table of the class described comprising a pair of end sections movable toward and away from each other, foldable rails conmeeting said end sections, a stationary leaf mounted on said foldable rails, the. foldable rails including inwardly swinging sections hingedly connected at one end, means for slidably connecting the hingedly connected ends of the swinging rail sections to the leaf, a pair of drop leaves hingedly mounted on the stationary leaf, cables for swinging the rail sections inwardly, and means slidably connecting the end sections of the table to the stationary and the drop leaves.

THOMAS C. DUKES. 

